Oregon State University sees increase in diversity among students

CORVALLIS, Ore. -- The Oregon State University diversity student population has increased over the last decade.

OSU’s enrollment numbers for Fall 2017 indicate a 10% increase over the last decade for students from different ethnic and racial backgrounds.

Focusing on creating a more diverse community of students and faculty over the last ten years, they have changed the way they've recruited.

The university has two programs, Beavers VIP and "Juntos", which means "together" in Spanish.

"In the beginning, I felt like an outsider, and now I still kind of do in certain settings," says Rose Nguyen, a senior at Oregon State University.

Originally from Vietnam, Nguyen moved to Oregon when she was a senior in high school.

"As a student, I am always looking for a community that we belong in as you walk through your class and through your day. You want to find a space where you don't want to explain why you eat this food or you do the things you do," says Nguyen.

OSU's mission over the last ten years has been to increase the number of minority students on campus.

Steve Clark is the President and Provost of the Leadership Council for Equity, Inclusion and Social Justice.

He says they have targeted students from different racial and ethnic backgrounds.

"The goal there is to actually help families and young people complete their middle school and complete high school and go on to a college or university of their choice," says Clark.

Clark says it also starts with their faculty.

"We not only want those faculty and staff but we want them to stay here and be a part of our overall efforts to be an excellent university," says Clark.

Nguyen spends part of her time at the Asian and Pacific Cultural Center, one of seven different cultural resource centers on campus.

"There is a lot of push to help students to go into central campus life even if you don't identity as the majority group," says Nguyen.

The university also offers financial aid programs for students of color.

Even though there has been an increase in minority students on campus, Clark says the university will continue to strive for a more diverse community at OSU.